India's envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that Chabahar can become a "fulcrum of transit" between India and Central Asia. The comments of the envoy come even as India, Uzbekistan, and Iran held the first trilateral talks on the use of the Chabahar project in Iran.

Speaking to WION's&nbsp;principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Uzbekistan capital Tashkent, the envoy said, "While transit through railways and trucks already takes place from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port to Central Asian countries, the need is to develop the infrastructure to connect Central Asia to the Chabahar port."

India built the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar as part of the India, Iran, Afghanistan 2016 agreement to increase its connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond to central Asia. &nbsp;The Indian envoy spoke on the recent India-Uzbekistan virtual summit, pointing out that it was, "India’s first virtual summit with an important partner in Central Asia and it was Uzbekistan’s first-ever bilateral virtual summit with any country. "

During the virtual summit, the first with any central Asian country, New Delhi approved 448 million lines of credit for four projects developmental projects in the country--two in road construction and one each in sewerage treatment and information technology.

WION: Key outcomes of the India-Uzbekistan virtual meet. While it was the seventh&nbsp;such virtual summit, it was the first such virtual summit with a central Asian country. Why Uzbekistan was chosen for the first such meet in that region?

Manish Prabhat: India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership has grown by leaps and bound thanks to the regular exchanges of VVIP visits in the last few years. Prime Minister visited Uzbekistan in 2015 and 2016. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s first visit to India took place in October 2018 and soon after he visited again in January 2019 to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.&nbsp;

This year Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan was on cards. However, in the situation of the ongoing pandemic, the visit was not possible. It was decided to hold a virtual summit between the two leaders to continue the momentum of our exchanges. Indeed, it became India’s first virtual summit with an important partner in Central Asia and it was Uzbekistan’s first-ever bilateral virtual summit with any country. Both sides were very satisfied with the results of the summit. The state of bilateral relations is excellent.

Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers have met and are working on a range of issues. Our multilateral cooperation in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and in the India-Central Asia Dialogue format is set to further strengthen. Our positions on important issues like terrorism and Afghanistan are similar. India’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2021-22 and Uzbekistan’s first-ever stint as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-23 gives rise to new possibilities of cooperation. Uzbekistan reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC. Both countries also called for reformed multilateralism including comprehensive reforms of the UN structures.&nbsp;

Both India and Uzbekistan have cooperated closely in tackling the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister assured of India’s continued commitment to support Uzbekistan in its fight against the pandemic. Uzbekistan is very interested in Indian vaccines for Covid-19 and has sought our support in bringing these vaccines to Uzbekistan. India is keen to expand its development partnership with Uzbekistan. India has already declared a USD one billion line of credit for development projects in Uzbekistan.

In the framework of the India-Central Asia Dialogue also, India has offered another line of credit of USD one billion for projects in the region. Both sides also signed an MoU on High Impact Community Development Projects to be undertaken in Uzbekistan under India’s grant assistance. In order to boost bilateral investment and trade, both sides are already engaged in negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and finalizing a Joint Feasibility Study which would pave the way for starting negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement. These will bring further dividends as Uzbekistan has recently become an Observer in the Eurasian Economic Union, a market of more than 200 million people.

Both India and Uzbekistan seek to achieve a bilateral trade turnover of USD one billion but have actually reached only one-third of that landmark. A major factor inhibiting the development of closer trade and economic relationship is the absence of economic and efficient surface connectivity. Both sides believe that the Chabahar route can be the key to address this problem. A total of nine agreements and MoUs on cooperation were signed during the summit including on the line of credit, information technology, cybersecurity, solar energy, customs, standardisation, mass communication, etc. Space and civil nuclear energy are also upcoming areas of our bilateral cooperation.

WION: On connectivity, a trilateral happened between on Chabahar between India, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Chabahar is India built port, how do you see, Central Asia benefitting from it?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;As we are all aware, India has been pushing for encouraging the use of the Chabahar port by all Central Asian countries.&nbsp; Even during the first India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in January 2019 in Samarkand, then External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj had put forth the idea of the use of Chabahar for establishing greater connectivity between India and Central Asia.&nbsp;

It is heartening to see that Uzbekistan fully supports this idea and has taken the initiative to host the first trilateral dialogue among Uzbekistan, India, and Iran on the possibilities of the joint use of Chabahar port.&nbsp; The trilateral meeting took place on 14 December at the level of Deputy Ministers of the three countries concerned with transport and logistics relating to the Chabahar port.&nbsp;

The three sides discussed the possibility of developing joint platforms and establishing commercial parameters to encourage the transit of goods through the Chabahar port.&nbsp; The idea, when taken further, would need customs administrations of the three countries, freight forwarding companies, and other stakeholders to work together.&nbsp; We would need the participation of Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries to have a wider reach for this proposal.&nbsp; While transit through railways and trucks already takes place from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port to Central Asian countries, the need is to develop the infrastructure to connect Central Asia to the Chabahar port. This will further make the route between India and Central Asia shorter and economical for the movement of containers.&nbsp;

The Chabahar port is already successfully handling the movement of goods between India and Afghanistan.&nbsp; Its success has already shown that it has the potential to become the fulcrum of transit between India and Central Asia.&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp;Uzbekistan is the first country in Central Asia with which we have started our development partners in terms of extending Lines of Credit. We have now listed 4 projects for the partnership, can you give details?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;As per the request of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of India has approved four projects to be undertaken under India’s Line of Credit in Uzbekistan.&nbsp; These projects are in the sectors of road construction, sewerage, and supply of IT equipment for education and are worth USD 448 million. These projects are also spread over different regions of Uzbekistan.&nbsp; More such projects will also be identified in the future as our total commitment is of USD 1 billion of Line of Credit.&nbsp; The Government of Uzbekistan is expected to soon make us available the Detailed Project Reports so that they could be studied and examined from a technical and financial point of view. The implementation of projects can begin soon thereafter.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see future cooperation. We have with Gujarat and Andijan, also plans for Haryana and Fergana. IT is another sector which has seen cooperation.

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;Establishing cooperation between identified pairs of regions of Uzbekistan and states of India could become a good model for encouraging investment and projects between the two sides.&nbsp; We have been encouraged by the results of the visit of the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani who led a strong business delegation of Gujarat-based companies to the Andijan region of Uzbekistan in October 2019. Gujarat and Andijan have a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation.&nbsp; Shortly after the visit of Shri Rupani, a strong Uzbek business delegation paid a return visit to Gujarat.&nbsp; As a result of these visits, more than 20 B2B Agreements and documents were signed, especially in the fields of pharmaceuticals, IT, education and agriculture, and agri-processing.&nbsp;

Cadila has announced a major investment in Andijan to manufacture pharmaceuticals.&nbsp; Andijan has opened a special Free Pharmaceuticals Zone to attract Indian companies.&nbsp; Both India and Uzbekistan seek to further expand this model of cooperation and are taking further steps to encourage cooperation between the Fergana region and the state of Haryana.&nbsp; Development of various contours of cooperation would depend on the respective strengths of the identified regions and the states and their potential. IT certainly continues to be a major sector of our bilateral cooperation.&nbsp; It may be noted that the Uzbek government invited an expert from the Software Technology Parks of India to be stationed in Uzbekistan and provide technical expertise to establish IT parks in the country.&nbsp; As a result, Uzbekistan’s first-ever IT Park was opened in Tashkent in early 2019 and more IT parks have since been opened in other regions of Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan government is upbeat about attracting Indian IT companies to Uzbekistan to help with various digitization and e-governance activities in the country. The Uzbek side would also like to benefit from India’s experience in helping startups to grow.&nbsp;

WION: Uzbek Parliament has also constituted an India Friendship Group in their Parliament, is it the first such Parliament in the region to do so?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;Oliy Majlis, the Parliament of Uzbekistan has expressed its strong desire to expand cooperation with the Indian Parliament and benefit from the study of India’s parliamentary practices given our strong credentials of being the largest democracy in the world.&nbsp;

As per the parliamentary practices in Uzbekistan, Parliamentary Friendship Groups for India have already been established in both Houses of the Oliy Majlis and they would like to have interaction with their counterpart groups in the Indian Parliament.&nbsp; There have also been proposals to have online interaction between parliamentarians from both sides on topics of mutual interest and exchange of visits in the future once the pandemic situation improves.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both India and Uzbekistan would like to strengthen their inter-parliamentary cooperation. With the ongoing reforms in various spheres in Uzbekistan, including in the fields of governance, media, economy and finance, there is interest in the Uzbek Parliament to study the practices of developed democracies to learn how their parliaments support such initiatives.&nbsp;

India's envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that Chabahar can become a "fulcrum of transit" between India and Central Asia. The comments of the envoy come even as India, Uzbekistan, and Iran held the first trilateral talks on the use of the Chabahar project in Iran.

India's envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that Chabahar can become a "fulcrum of transit" between India and Central Asia. The comments of the envoy come even as India, Uzbekistan, and Iran held the first trilateral talks on the use of the Chabahar project in Iran. Speaking to WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Uzbekistan capital Tashkent, the envoy said, "While transit through railways and trucks already takes place from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port to Central Asian countries, the need is to develop the infrastructure to connect Central Asia to the Chabahar port." India built the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar as part of the India, Iran, Afghanistan 2016 agreement to increase its connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond to central Asia. The Indian envoy spoke on the recent India-Uzbekistan virtual summit, pointing out that it was, "India’s first virtual summit with an important partner in Central Asia and it was Uzbekistan’s first-ever bilateral virtual summit with any country. " During the virtual summit, the first with any central Asian country, New Delhi approved 448 million lines of credit for four projects developmental projects in the country--two in road construction and one each in sewerage treatment and information technology. WION: Key outcomes of the India-Uzbekistan virtual meet. While it was the seventh such virtual summit, it was the first such virtual summit with a central Asian country. Why Uzbekistan was chosen for the first such meet in that region? Manish Prabhat: India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership has grown by leaps and bound thanks to the regular exchanges of VVIP visits in the last few years. Prime Minister visited Uzbekistan in 2015 and 2016. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s first visit to India took place in October 2018 and soon after he visited again in January 2019 to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. This year Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan was on cards. However, in the situation of the ongoing pandemic, the visit was not possible. It was decided to hold a virtual summit between the two leaders to continue the momentum of our exchanges. Indeed, it became India’s first virtual summit with an important partner in Central Asia and it was Uzbekistan’s first-ever bilateral virtual summit with any country. Both sides were very satisfied with the results of the summit. The state of bilateral relations is excellent. Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers have met and are working on a range of issues. Our multilateral cooperation in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and in the India-Central Asia Dialogue format is set to further strengthen. Our positions on important issues like terrorism and Afghanistan are similar. India’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2021-22 and Uzbekistan’s first-ever stint as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-23 gives rise to new possibilities of cooperation. Uzbekistan reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC. Both countries also called for reformed multilateralism including comprehensive reforms of the UN structures. Both India and Uzbekistan have cooperated closely in tackling the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister assured of India’s continued commitment to support Uzbekistan in its fight against the pandemic. Uzbekistan is very interested in Indian vaccines for Covid-19 and has sought our support in bringing these vaccines to Uzbekistan. India is keen to expand its development partnership with Uzbekistan. India has already declared a USD one billion line of credit for development projects in Uzbekistan. In the framework of the India-Central Asia Dialogue also, India has offered another line of credit of USD one billion for projects in the region. Both sides also signed an MoU on High Impact Community Development Projects to be undertaken in Uzbekistan under India’s grant assistance. In order to boost bilateral investment and trade, both sides are already engaged in negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and finalizing a Joint Feasibility Study which would pave the way for starting negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement. These will bring further dividends as Uzbekistan has recently become an Observer in the Eurasian Economic Union, a market of more than 200 million people. Both India and Uzbekistan seek to achieve a bilateral trade turnover of USD one billion but have actually reached only one-third of that landmark. A major factor inhibiting the development of closer trade and economic relationship is the absence of economic and efficient surface connectivity. Both sides believe that the Chabahar route can be the key to address this problem. A total of nine agreements and MoUs on cooperation were signed during the summit including on the line of credit, information technology, cybersecurity, solar energy, customs, standardisation, mass communication, etc. Space and civil nuclear energy are also upcoming areas of our bilateral cooperation. WION: On connectivity, a trilateral happened between on Chabahar between India, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Chabahar is India built port, how do you see, Central Asia benefitting from it? Manish Prabhat: As we are all aware, India has been pushing for encouraging the use of the Chabahar port by all Central Asian countries. Even during the first India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in January 2019 in Samarkand, then External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj had put forth the idea of the use of Chabahar for establishing greater connectivity between India and Central Asia. It is heartening to see that Uzbekistan fully supports this idea and has taken the initiative to host the first trilateral dialogue among Uzbekistan, India, and Iran on the possibilities of the joint use of Chabahar port. The trilateral meeting took place on 14 December at the level of Deputy Ministers of the three countries concerned with transport and logistics relating to the Chabahar port. The three sides discussed the possibility of developing joint platforms and establishing commercial parameters to encourage the transit of goods through the Chabahar port. The idea, when taken further, would need customs administrations of the three countries, freight forwarding companies, and other stakeholders to work together. We would need the participation of Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries to have a wider reach for this proposal. While transit through railways and trucks already takes place from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port to Central Asian countries, the need is to develop the infrastructure to connect Central Asia to the Chabahar port. This will further make the route between India and Central Asia shorter and economical for the movement of containers. The Chabahar port is already successfully handling the movement of goods between India and Afghanistan. Its success has already shown that it has the potential to become the fulcrum of transit between India and Central Asia. WION: Uzbekistan is the first country in Central Asia with which we have started our development partners in terms of extending Lines of Credit. We have now listed 4 projects for the partnership, can you give details? Manish Prabhat: As per the request of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of India has approved four projects to be undertaken under India’s Line of Credit in Uzbekistan. These projects are in the sectors of road construction, sewerage, and supply of IT equipment for education and are worth USD 448 million. These projects are also spread over different regions of Uzbekistan. More such projects will also be identified in the future as our total commitment is of USD 1 billion of Line of Credit. The Government of Uzbekistan is expected to soon make us available the Detailed Project Reports so that they could be studied and examined from a technical and financial point of view. The implementation of projects can begin soon thereafter. WION: How do you see future cooperation. We have with Gujarat and Andijan, also plans for Haryana and Fergana. IT is another sector which has seen cooperation. Manish Prabhat: Establishing cooperation between identified pairs of regions of Uzbekistan and states of India could become a good model for encouraging investment and projects between the two sides. We have been encouraged by the results of the visit of the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani who led a strong business delegation of Gujarat-based companies to the Andijan region of Uzbekistan in October 2019. Gujarat and Andijan have a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation. Shortly after the visit of Shri Rupani, a strong Uzbek business delegation paid a return visit to Gujarat. As a result of these visits, more than 20 B2B Agreements and documents were signed, especially in the fields of pharmaceuticals, IT, education and agriculture, and agri-processing. Cadila has announced a major investment in Andijan to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Andijan has opened a special Free Pharmaceuticals Zone to attract Indian companies. Both India and Uzbekistan seek to further expand this model of cooperation and are taking further steps to encourage cooperation between the Fergana region and the state of Haryana. Development of various contours of cooperation would depend on the respective strengths of the identified regions and the states and their potential. IT certainly continues to be a major sector of our bilateral cooperation. It may be noted that the Uzbek government invited an expert from the Software Technology Parks of India to be stationed in Uzbekistan and provide technical expertise to establish IT parks in the country. As a result, Uzbekistan’s first-ever IT Park was opened in Tashkent in early 2019 and more IT parks have since been opened in other regions of Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan government is upbeat about attracting Indian IT companies to Uzbekistan to help with various digitization and e-governance activities in the country. The Uzbek side would also like to benefit from India’s experience in helping startups to grow. WION: Uzbek Parliament has also constituted an India Friendship Group in their Parliament, is it the first such Parliament in the region to do so? Manish Prabhat: Oliy Majlis, the Parliament of Uzbekistan has expressed its strong desire to expand cooperation with the Indian Parliament and benefit from the study of India’s parliamentary practices given our strong credentials of being the largest democracy in the world. As per the parliamentary practices in Uzbekistan, Parliamentary Friendship Groups for India have already been established in both Houses of the Oliy Majlis and they would like to have interaction with their counterpart groups in the Indian Parliament. There have also been proposals to have online interaction between parliamentarians from both sides on topics of mutual interest and exchange of visits in the future once the pandemic situation improves. Both India and Uzbekistan would like to strengthen their inter-parliamentary cooperation. With the ongoing reforms in various spheres in Uzbekistan, including in the fields of governance, media, economy and finance, there is interest in the Uzbek Parliament to study the practices of developed democracies to learn how their parliaments support such initiatives.

Chabahar can be fulcrum of transit between India and Central Asia, says Indian envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat

Afghanistan has said while the ongoing US, Iran tensions are not impacting Chabahar project, it hopes smooth working of the project will continue in the future.

Speaking to WION from Kabul, Afghanistan's Transport ministry spokesperson Alisina Saeed said, "No impact as of now to Chabahar port. Hopefully, no impact will happen, as you know US extended waiver for the port".

Last week, the US killed top Iranian Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, which has sparked fears of a major turmoil in West Asia which can impact India's key connectivity project in Iran, the Chabahar project.

Located at southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar is the home for Iran's only oceanic port. The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co in December 2018. Over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled from the port since then.&nbsp;

In December 2019, it was agreed by India, Afghanistan and Iran to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement.

Afghanistan has said while the ongoing US, Iran tensions are not impacting Chabahar project, it hopes smooth working of the project will continue in the future. Speaking to WION from Kabul, Afghanistan's Transport ministry spokesperson Alisina Saeed said, "No impact as of now to Chabahar port.

Afghanistan has said while the ongoing US, Iran tensions are not impacting Chabahar project, it hopes smooth working of the project will continue in the future. Speaking to WION from Kabul, Afghanistan's Transport ministry spokesperson Alisina Saeed said, "No impact as of now to Chabahar port. Hopefully, no impact will happen, as you know US extended waiver for the port". Last week, the US killed top Iranian Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, which has sparked fears of a major turmoil in West Asia which can impact India's key connectivity project in Iran, the Chabahar project. Located at southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar is the home for Iran's only oceanic port. The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co in December 2018. Over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled from the port since then. In December 2019, it was agreed by India, Afghanistan and Iran to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement.

Afghanistan hopes the US-Iran tensions won't impact Chabahar project

India reached out to global capital on Sunday evening in the backdrop of growing tensions in West Asia after the US killed top Iranian general - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqi-parliament-passes-resolution-to-end-foreign-troop-presence-272342">Qasem Soleimani</a> of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week. This even as Washington told New Delhi about Iranian "threats" to which US won't "hesitate" to act.

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Oman's FM Yusuf Alawi and UAE's FM Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Top Indian government sources said, "We are closely following the developments in the West Asia region. We are engaged with all important stakeholders on the prevailing situation given our deep interest in the stability and security of the region."&nbsp;

"In this context, today EAM had a telephonic conversation with his counterparts from Iran, UAE, Oman and the United States to discuss ways to reduce the rising level of tension in the region," sources added.

The external affairs ministry highlighted "India's stakes and concern" with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talking about "Iran’s continued threats and provocations", explained that "Trump administration won’t hesitate to act to keep American lives, and those of our friends and allies, safe."&nbsp;

With three West Asian countries, Iran, Oman and UAE, the focus was on how the developing situation can impact the region. EAM during his talks with Iranian counterpart noted that developments "have taken a very serious turn" and New Delhi remains "deeply concerned" about the levels of tension. With Oman, both sides, "reaffirmed" the "shared interest in the stability and security of the Gulf."

Jaishankar's last visit in 2019 was to Iran and Oman and foreign ministers of three countries had met in the Omani capital Muscat on December 24 with focus on increasing connectivity in the region.

Meanwhile, the Iranian mission in a statement expressed its "gratitude" to all "individuals, groups, elites, &nbsp;media outlets, organizations and foreign missions" in India who have expressed their "sympathy and solidarity" with Tehran.

India has huge stakes in the stability of the region with the presence of large diaspora and energy security and connectivity linkages. India's key connectivity programme - the Chabahar project and North-South Transport corridor that will help it connect with Afghanistan and Central Asia and Moscow could get impacted with instability in the region.&nbsp;

New Delhi's oil imports come from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran and tensions in the region will impact consumers in the country, already reeling under high onion prices.&nbsp;

India reached out to global capital on Sunday evening in the backdrop of growing tensions in West Asia after the US killed top Iranian general - Qasem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week.

India reached out to global capital on Sunday evening in the backdrop of growing tensions in West Asia after the US killed top Iranian general - Qasem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week. This even as Washington told New Delhi about Iranian "threats" to which US won't "hesitate" to act. India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Oman's FM Yusuf Alawi and UAE's FM Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Top Indian government sources said, "We are closely following the developments in the West Asia region. We are engaged with all important stakeholders on the prevailing situation given our deep interest in the stability and security of the region." "In this context, today EAM had a telephonic conversation with his counterparts from Iran, UAE, Oman and the United States to discuss ways to reduce the rising level of tension in the region," sources added. The external affairs ministry highlighted "India's stakes and concern" with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talking about "Iran’s continued threats and provocations", explained that "Trump administration won’t hesitate to act to keep American lives, and those of our friends and allies, safe." With three West Asian countries, Iran, Oman and UAE, the focus was on how the developing situation can impact the region. EAM during his talks with Iranian counterpart noted that developments "have taken a very serious turn" and New Delhi remains "deeply concerned" about the levels of tension. With Oman, both sides, "reaffirmed" the "shared interest in the stability and security of the Gulf." Jaishankar's last visit in 2019 was to Iran and Oman and foreign ministers of three countries had met in the Omani capital Muscat on December 24 with focus on increasing connectivity in the region. Meanwhile, the Iranian mission in a statement expressed its "gratitude" to all "individuals, groups, elites, media outlets, organizations and foreign missions" in India who have expressed their "sympathy and solidarity" with Tehran. India has huge stakes in the stability of the region with the presence of large diaspora and energy security and connectivity linkages. India's key connectivity programme - the Chabahar project and North-South Transport corridor that will help it connect with Afghanistan and Central Asia and Moscow could get impacted with instability in the region. New Delhi's oil imports come from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran and tensions in the region will impact consumers in the country, already reeling under high onion prices.

India reaches out to countries in West Asia amid US-Iran tensions

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion.

In a tweet, the EAM said, "A very good conversation on the regional and global picture. India and Iran will work together closely on their shared interests".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Just concluded a very productive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaIran</a> Joint Commission Meeting with my co-chair FM <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JZarif</a>. Reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project. <a href="https://t.co/vo0YjHONpF">pic.twitter.com/vo0YjHONpF</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1208758727077224449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Jaishankar added, "reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project".The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co. last December. Ever since over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled which includes exports from Afghanistan which began in February 2019.&nbsp;

In a meet last week, India, Afghanistan and Iran agreed to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement.&nbsp;

This is the 4th meeting between Jaishankar and Zarif. They have already met in Dushanbe, New York and Baku on the sidelines of multilateral events. They will meet next in January in Delhi during Iran FM's visit.&nbsp;

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion.

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion. In a tweet, the EAM said, "A very good conversation on the regional and global picture. India and Iran will work together closely on their shared interests". Just concluded a very productive #IndiaIran Joint Commission Meeting with my co-chair FM @JZarif. Reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project. pic.twitter.com/vo0YjHONpF — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 22, 2019 × Jaishankar added, "reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project".The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co. last December. Ever since over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled which includes exports from Afghanistan which began in February 2019. In a meet last week, India, Afghanistan and Iran agreed to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement. This is the 4th meeting between Jaishankar and Zarif. They have already met in Dushanbe, New York and Baku on the sidelines of multilateral events. They will meet next in January in Delhi during Iran FM's visit.

India, Iran to speed-up Chabahar project; reaffirm unbreakable ties

The Tajik envoy Rahimzoda Sulton in Delhi, speaking exclusively to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal lauded the Chabahar project and said it will&nbsp;provide them with the shortest route to a seaport. He also spoke on Afghanistan, with which the landlocked central country shares a long border, and India-Tajik ties. Edited excerpts:&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: Today you mark your Independence day....

Rahimzoda Sulton: On 9th of September Tajikistan celebrates its Independence day and this morning the honourable President of the Republic of Tajikistan his Excellency Emomali Rahmon has launched the second unit of the Rogun hydropower plant.&nbsp;

Rogun hydropower plant is the biggest power station under construction and after its completion, with a capacity of 3600 MW, it will be the biggest hydropower station in Central Asia. The height of the dam will be 335 meters which will be the tallest dam in the world. It plays a very important role in the economic development of Tajikistan.&nbsp;

For a long period, we had to face a lack of electricity especially during the winter and had to close schools, hospitals. Even industries faced power shortages. This project will help to better social situation. We are very happy with this good news.

WION: How do see ties between India and Tajikistan?

Rahimzoda Sulton: India and Tajikistan have deep historical and cultural ties. Our bilateral relations have been built based on mutually beneficial cooperation. Our collaboration is increasing year by year. There have been high-level visits. We are happy to have collaboration with India and we think there is a big potential for future collaboration.&nbsp;

WION: How can India help Tajikistan achieve its development goals?

Rahimzoda Sulton: India has achieved many big developments. It is one of the biggest economies of the world, among the top 10. Prime minister Narendra Modi announced a new plan of government to make it $5 trillion economies and this is achievable. We are celebrating the 28th anniversary of our Independence and we have a lot of untapped potentials. we are interested in investment from India. Its good opportunity for Indian companies to come to Tajikistan. We are using concessional loans announced by Indian President Kovind during his visit to the country last year. We have a big resource for hydropower.

WIONl: How do you see India's Chabahar project?

Rahimzoda Sulton: Tajikistan like other Central Asian countries is landlocked, so we don't have access to seas and seaports. That is why it makes difficult for our economy especially on the export and import of goods. It's cheaper to export goods via sea than use land transportation. In this regard, this Chabahar project is a good opportunity&nbsp;and it provides an opportunity for Tajikistan to increase its exports and imports potential. It will be the shortest route to the seaport, we welcome this initiative by India and currently, we are working and understanding the different aspects of the project. It will also help in bilateral cooperation with India.&nbsp;

WION: You are a close neighbour of Afghanistan, how do you see developments in the country?

Rahimzoda Sulton: Tajikstan has the longest border with Afghanistan. Its length is more than 1300 km, and Tajikistan is interested in having a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. We welcome the initiative of the government and the people of Afghanistan to work in this direction and to have a good collaboration with neighbouring countries. We welcome the initiatives by the international community and invite them to increase their support for the economic development of Afghanistan because when the economy is developed, the social situation is better then the risk of conflict goes down. Having stable Afghanistan means it can help us provide transit to Chabahar that will help in the economic growth of our country.

The Tajik envoy Rahimzoda Sulton in Delhi, speaking exclusively to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal lauded the Chabahar project and said it will provide them with the shortest route to a seaport.

The Tajik envoy Rahimzoda Sulton in Delhi, speaking exclusively to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal lauded the Chabahar project and said it will provide them with the shortest route to a seaport. He also spoke on Afghanistan, with which the landlocked central country shares a long border, and India-Tajik ties. Edited excerpts: WION: Today you mark your Independence day.... Rahimzoda Sulton: On 9th of September Tajikistan celebrates its Independence day and this morning the honourable President of the Republic of Tajikistan his Excellency Emomali Rahmon has launched the second unit of the Rogun hydropower plant. Rogun hydropower plant is the biggest power station under construction and after its completion, with a capacity of 3600 MW, it will be the biggest hydropower station in Central Asia. The height of the dam will be 335 meters which will be the tallest dam in the world. It plays a very important role in the economic development of Tajikistan. For a long period, we had to face a lack of electricity especially during the winter and had to close schools, hospitals. Even industries faced power shortages. This project will help to better social situation. We are very happy with this good news. WION: How do see ties between India and Tajikistan? Rahimzoda Sulton: India and Tajikistan have deep historical and cultural ties. Our bilateral relations have been built based on mutually beneficial cooperation. Our collaboration is increasing year by year. There have been high-level visits. We are happy to have collaboration with India and we think there is a big potential for future collaboration. WION: How can India help Tajikistan achieve its development goals? Rahimzoda Sulton: India has achieved many big developments. It is one of the biggest economies of the world, among the top 10. Prime minister Narendra Modi announced a new plan of government to make it $5 trillion economies and this is achievable. We are celebrating the 28th anniversary of our Independence and we have a lot of untapped potentials. we are interested in investment from India. Its good opportunity for Indian companies to come to Tajikistan. We are using concessional loans announced by Indian President Kovind during his visit to the country last year. We have a big resource for hydropower. WIONl: How do you see India's Chabahar project? Rahimzoda Sulton: Tajikistan like other Central Asian countries is landlocked, so we don't have access to seas and seaports. That is why it makes difficult for our economy especially on the export and import of goods. It's cheaper to export goods via sea than use land transportation. In this regard, this Chabahar project is a good opportunity and it provides an opportunity for Tajikistan to increase its exports and imports potential. It will be the shortest route to the seaport, we welcome this initiative by India and currently, we are working and understanding the different aspects of the project. It will also help in bilateral cooperation with India. WION: You are a close neighbour of Afghanistan, how do you see developments in the country? Rahimzoda Sulton: Tajikstan has the longest border with Afghanistan. Its length is more than 1300 km, and Tajikistan is interested in having a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. We welcome the initiative of the government and the people of Afghanistan to work in this direction and to have a good collaboration with neighbouring countries. We welcome the initiatives by the international community and invite them to increase their support for the economic development of Afghanistan because when the economy is developed, the social situation is better then the risk of conflict goes down. Having stable Afghanistan means it can help us provide transit to Chabahar that will help in the economic growth of our country.

Chabahar will provide us with the shortest route to a seaport: Tajik envoy 

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries.

While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically.

Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran.

Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing.

Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.”

Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.”

In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel.

Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country."

Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative.

The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad.

During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. &nbsp;

The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine.

The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan.

They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports.

Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub.

Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom.&nbsp;

The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity.

The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published &nbsp;a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.”

If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar.

Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations.

Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic.

They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain.

Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.”

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries. While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically. Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran. Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing. Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.” Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.” In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel. Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country." Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad. During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine. The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan. They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports. Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub. Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom. The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity. The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.” If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar. Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations. Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic. They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain. Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The significance of Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Pakistan

India today condemned the suicide attack <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-killed-several-injured-in-explosion-at-irans-southern-port-town-of-chabahar-181866">on the Chabahar port in southeastern</a> Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured.

The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia. The port allows Indian ships a transit route for trade with Afghanistan and central Asia in the landlocked area, bypassing Pakistan.

The port lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres west of the Pakistan border.

India had signed a deal with Iran two years ago to build special economic zones in the port to facilitate trade. "The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by,"&nbsp;Chabahar city governor Rahmdel Bameri said.

Several shops were affected as a result of the blast which wounded women and children.&nbsp;"This terrorist act led to the martyrdom of two members of the police force," the province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi said.

"India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in Chabahar in Iran. We express condolences to the government and people of Iran and families of victims," India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

"Perpetrators should be brought to justice expeditiously. &nbsp;There can be no justification for any act of terror," the spokesman added.

Chabahar has recently become the hotbed of conflict between Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and Sunni Muslims. The strategic importance of the port city can be gauged from the fact that the US recently said it would exempt the port from new sanctions on Tehran considering its value for war-hit Afghanistan.

The US has exempted railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan from Iran in a move seen as a strategic tie-up with India.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/urRRjDPD1cg" width="560"></iframe>

India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured. The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia.

India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured. The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia. The port allows Indian ships a transit route for trade with Afghanistan and central Asia in the landlocked area, bypassing Pakistan. The port lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres west of the Pakistan border. India had signed a deal with Iran two years ago to build special economic zones in the port to facilitate trade. "The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by," Chabahar city governor Rahmdel Bameri said. Several shops were affected as a result of the blast which wounded women and children. "This terrorist act led to the martyrdom of two members of the police force," the province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi said. "India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in Chabahar in Iran. We express condolences to the government and people of Iran and families of victims," India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. "Perpetrators should be brought to justice expeditiously. There can be no justification for any act of terror," the spokesman added. Chabahar has recently become the hotbed of conflict between Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and Sunni Muslims. The strategic importance of the port city can be gauged from the fact that the US recently said it would exempt the port from new sanctions on Tehran considering its value for war-hit Afghanistan. The US has exempted railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan from Iran in a move seen as a strategic tie-up with India.

Perpetrators involved in Chabahar terror attack should be brought to justice: India

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gorakhpur-phulpur-bypoll-results-counting-underway-amid-heavy-security-35739">Gorakhpur, Phulpur Bypoll results: Counting underway amid heavy security</a>

Counting of votes for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha byelections began today amid tight security.&nbsp;

All eyes are on Gorkahpur as it is the home constituency of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath from where he had won five times as an MP.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-targeting-60-billion-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-in-100-items-35719">Trump targeting $60 billion tariffs on Chinese imports in 100 items</a>

President Trump&#39;s administration is targeting China import tariffs upto $60 billion even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the US Senate was &quot;highly unlikely&quot; to pass legislation to nullify tariffs which President Trump has announced.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chahbahar-project-not-aimed-at-strangulating-anybody-iran-35741">Chabahar project not aimed at &#39;strangulating&#39; anybody: Iran</a>

Iran has invited Pakistan and China to participate in the strategic Chabahar Port and said the initiative is not aimed at &quot;strangulating&quot; or &quot;encircling&quot; anybody, a media report today quoted visiting Iranian Foreign Minister as saying.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/shoe-hurled-at-pakistan-tehreek-i-insaf-chief-imran-khan-35713">Shoe hurled at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan</a>

A shoe was hurled at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Tuesday during a rally in Gujrat city in Pakistan&#39;s Punjab province.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-crude-prices-fall-over-rising-production-tillerson-firing-35722">US crude prices fall over rising production, Tillerson firing</a>

Oil fell more than 1 per cent on concerns over rising US production and as equities fell, erasing earlier gains driven in part by the firing of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Gorakhpur, Phulpur Bypoll results: Counting underway amid heavy security Counting of votes for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha byelections began today amid tight security. All eyes are on Gorkahpur as it is the home constituency of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath from where he had won five times as an MP. Trump targeting $60 billion tariffs on Chinese imports in 100 items President Trump's administration is targeting China import tariffs upto $60 billion even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the US Senate was "highly unlikely" to pass legislation to nullify tariffs which President Trump has announced. Chabahar project not aimed at 'strangulating' anybody: Iran Iran has invited Pakistan and China to participate in the strategic Chabahar Port and said the initiative is not aimed at "strangulating" or "encircling" anybody, a media report today quoted visiting Iranian Foreign Minister as saying. Shoe hurled at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan A shoe was hurled at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Tuesday during a rally in Gujrat city in Pakistan's Punjab province. US crude prices fall over rising production, Tillerson firing Oil fell more than 1 per cent on concerns over rising US production and as equities fell, erasing earlier gains driven in part by the firing of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

WION Morning News Brief, March 14, 2018

The first phase of the strategic Chabahar port which has been developed by India will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today.

Representatives from India, Afghanistan and a few other countries in the region will also be in attendance.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday made a stopover in Iran on her way back from Russia to meet Iran foreign minister of&nbsp;Dr Javed Zarif in Tehran. The two counterparts discussed the implementation of the Chabahar port.

The port will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan.&nbsp;

India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia.

New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January, Reuters earlier reported, adding that the port is being viewed by Iran critics US and the United Kingdom as a transport corridor to Afghanistan rather than for advancing Iran&#39;s agenda in the Middle-East.

The first shipment of wheat arrived last week from India&#39;s Kandla port in Gujarat, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul told Reuters. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan.

The United States, which wants India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of India&#39;s efforts to develop the Iranian corridor.

India&#39;s ties with Iran came up in New Delhi last month during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people.

The government has set up the India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL) to lead the Chabahar project.

The IGPL has held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations, an Indian government source earlier told Reuters.

In August, the IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships.

The first phase is known as the Shahid Beheshti port.

Iran has reportedly asked the Indian government to operate the first phase until work for the second phase is finalised.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The first phase of the project will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today

The first phase of the strategic Chabahar port which has been developed by India will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today. Representatives from India, Afghanistan and a few other countries in the region will also be in attendance. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday made a stopover in Iran on her way back from Russia to meet Iran foreign minister of Dr Javed Zarif in Tehran. The two counterparts discussed the implementation of the Chabahar port. The port will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan. India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia. New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January, Reuters earlier reported, adding that the port is being viewed by Iran critics US and the United Kingdom as a transport corridor to Afghanistan rather than for advancing Iran's agenda in the Middle-East. The first shipment of wheat arrived last week from India's Kandla port in Gujarat, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul told Reuters. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan. The United States, which wants India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of India's efforts to develop the Iranian corridor. India's ties with Iran came up in New Delhi last month during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people. The government has set up the India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL) to lead the Chabahar project. The IGPL has held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations, an Indian government source earlier told Reuters. In August, the IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships. The first phase is known as the Shahid Beheshti port. Iran has reportedly asked the Indian government to operate the first phase until work for the second phase is finalised. (With inputs from Reuters)

Chabahar port, developed by India, to be inaugurated today in Iran